Lane Kiffin didn’t say much when asked about the legal ruling that could send a wave of college athletes back to school for another season. But when the conversation shifted to his offensive line, the LSU coach sounded a lot more open to the possibilities.
“It’s a concern, and it’s something that’s high on our list of concerns right now,” Kiffin said of the offensive line. “So, we’ve got to continue to get guys better and improve, so we can be more confident with that.”
Then he added, with a light laugh, “I guess, before yesterday, I would normally say, ‘Our team is our team. It’s what we’ve got.’ But that potentially changes yesterday.”
Kiffin was pointing to a temporary restraining order granted Wednesday by 19th District Court Judge William Jorden of East Baton Rouge Parish. The order affects a large group of college athletes around the country who are suing the NCAA for the chance to return for one more season. It stems from a prior ruling by Colorado judge Charlotte Sweeney that gives college athletes who signed in 2022 another season because of the NCAA’s new rule allowing players after 2022 five seasons in five years instead of four over five.
One name that fits that group and could matter to Kiffin’s roster plans is former BYU guard Weylin Lapuaho. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman entered the transfer portal and could be back at BYU for another season, but Kiffin may be looking his way.
Lapuaho briefly got looks from the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins over the summer before deciding he’s ready to return to school. He began his college career at Utah State, where he started 13 games as a true freshman in 2022 after signing out of Bingham High in South Jordan, Utah, as the No. 53 interior offensive lineman in the country by 247sports.com. He then transferred to BYU, started the next three seasons and earned All-Big 12 honors.
Kiffin also appears to be considering other possible transfer additions tied to the ruling, including former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn, who remains in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp, and three former Ole Miss players from last season: tight end Dae’Quan Wright, now with the Cleveland Browns; defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who was with the Saints before being cut two weeks ago; and safety Wydett Williams, who is with the Arizona Cardinals. All three started for Kiffin last season at Ole Miss.
Asked earlier in the press conference about Jorden’s ruling, Kiffin took a much more guarded approach.
“There’s a lot to that,” he said. “Fair question, but I’m not going to comment on any of it.”
But when the topic turned to his line depth, he was willing to let the door crack open.
In Other News...
LSU Just Hit A Major Roadblock In The RJ Luis Case
LSUs long-running RJ Luis eligibility situation took another turn this week when SEC commissioner Greg Sankey entered the debate in a Louisiana court. Sankey filed an affidavit asking a judge to uphold NCAA rules that keep former professional athletes from returning to college sports, a filing that specifically cites Luis and his bid to play for LSU in the 2026-27 season after signing a two-way NBA contract and later being waived before that season began.
The argument from the SEC side is straightforward: letting a player go pro and then come back would create an uneven lane for student-athletes who stayed in college and never tested the professional route. For LSU, though, the case remains tangled in the larger fight over how much flexibility the NCAA will allow in an era where roster movement, professional opportunities and eligibility questions keep colliding in court. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has An Unexpected Camp Name Fans Need To Watch
Lane Kiffin has made a point of saying recruiting rankings do not carry any weight in how he evaluates players, and that stance is putting a spotlight on transfer running back Stacy Gage. Even with a modest recruiting profile, Gage has reportedly turned heads in recent practices, giving LSU a camp storyline that is less about where a player was rated and more about what he is showing right now.
Kiffins approach has also helped frame the bigger picture around camp, where practice performance is driving the conversation more than old labels or past production. LSU has had a few roster status updates along the way, with some players dealing with injuries and others working their way back, but Gages rise is the kind of development that can reshape the depth chart if it keeps going. [Read more 🡒]